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It wasn’t a fiery sermon preached from the pulpit, but instead a verse from the precious Christmas hymn, “Away in a Manger”.The words stopped in my throat…and I could only whisper them…mouth the words as tears filled my eyes.

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed”

Those words brought me up short and I realized I had gotten it all wrong.It was Christmas and I hadn’t made room for Jesus.

Oh there was time to decorate and attend Christmas festivities.I made time to make a list and check it twice…and shop for just the right gifts.I slipped in some Christmas concerts and even a party on the sparkling waters of Newport Beach.

But I didn’t make time for my Savior.

I enjoyed Christmas lights…but didn’t delight in the Light of the world.

Oh I attended church and Bible study and even prayed.But I didn’t seek special time to spend with Jesus…to thank Him for what He has done for me.In all the hustle and bustle of the season…I didn’t share the Good News of Gospel with someone who is overwhelmed or hurting or alone for the first time.

I didn’t spend time reading the story of Jesus’ most miraculous birth as God became man.He who is fully God and fully man…this One who was born to die.Willing to submit Himself unto the Father’s plan…in order to redeem me, buy me back and save me from my sin.

Everything I have…everything I am comes from Him.And I didn’t give Him the one thing I can offer…my time.

When I look at the gifts I received and the things I most treasure from this Christmas…it was time spent with friends…just chatting.Sometimes about important things…more often than not…it was just about stuff.Nothing earth shaking…but just time spent caring for one another.

If that’s what I enjoyed the most…why would I think my Lord and Savior wouldn’t love that too?

What I missed the most…was spending time with friends…talking and catching up…or getting away for a while from the hustle and bustle and demands that never end.Focusing on another…listening and carrying their burdens for a while.

Jesus gave His life so that I might live…He bore the penalty for my sins upon His body.He gave His all…and didn’t even give Him my time.

My foolish investment of time and energy made what is so precious…devoid of real meaning.If only I had focused on Christ…how might the rest of time and relationships have been during this season?Christ centered, peaceful, joyful, walking in love, mindful of the real reason behind the celebration.Walking in manner worthy of my high calling…and aiming to please my Savior…to bring Him joy.

When I really love someone…don’t I find great joy and happiness in pleasing them and making them happy?Won’t it be more so when I please Jesus?

Oh Jesus…I’m sorry I made no room for You this Christmas.Jesus I ask You, please don’t let me do this again…to walk so foolishly.May I be ever mindful of the treasure You are…and hold onto You and value You…and never let You go.

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As I was shutting the door this morning…I whispered, “God, Your word tells me that You are near to the brokenhearted.Oh God…You must be so very close to me right now.I just wish I could feel it.”With that plea uttered to my Savior…I locked the door and walked to my car.

As I put my things in the back seat I looked down to find a paper that looked old and tattered with a piece of dirty tape adhered to the back of the paper.I was going to close the door…but something prompted me to stop.I opened the door wide and picked up the paper.I didn’t recognize it…until I turned it over.

There…low and behold…was God reaching down to me in the form of my Believing God statement of faith.

I couldn’t tell you how many years ago I typed up that card.Was it two or three years ago…maybe more?I hadn’t seen that card since I first read Beth Moore’s book Believing God.That was my introduction to her.I liked her…but would later find that God would use Beth’s Bible teaching to touch me deeply.

I held the card in my hand…not quite comprehending how it got there.I didn’t need to read to the card to know what it said…because I know it well.But I read it out loud anyway…just to remind myself.

God is who He says He is.God can do what He says He can do.I am who God says I am.I can do all things through ChristGod’s word is alive and active in me.

I’m Believing God

On a very low, low day…when I wondered…how can I go on…Jesus was the lifter of my head.He showed me that He sees and that He cares.He not only wipes every tear from my eyes…but He holds each tear in a bottle…as if it’s most precious to Him.Why He cares for me…I don’t know…but He does.

I don’t know if that paper was in my Bible and slipped out…or if it was dislodged from a recent trip to the car wash.But I know it was God, in His perfecting timing, taking the time to remind me in personal and powerful way…that I need to Believe God…and keep believing Him.

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On today’s faith venture in Believing God…I’m seeing a clear picture that I have lazy faith.I thank God that He trusts me enough to reveal these things…that means He trusts me to want to change them.Now I fully admit I can’t change it on my own.But even knowing that is good…because before I thought it was a goal achieved through my own effort and self will.Now I know that I am weak and unable to do anything on my own…must less exercise faith.

I can see in the past that God, in His mercy, answered prayers of mine when I had little or no faith.He didn’t do it because I exercised great faith and trusted in Him.He did it out of mercy and because He knew I was a new Christian or young in my faith.

But I grew lazy…not wanting to strive or to pray without ceasing…but still get God to answer my prayers.I could have my proverbial cake and eat it too.When I do that…I’m acting worse then an unbeliever.

But God is not satisfied in leaving me young and immature in my faith.He wants me to grow…in faith and in my knowledge of Him.He wants me to participate.To believe Him…to keep believing…even when my circumstances would say otherwise.

I think I have been more satisfied with justifying my unbelief and lack of faith then in believing God.I’ve been more content with complaining about what I don’t have then to thank God for what I do have.Perturbed that I have to keep praying to God instead of falling down on my knees in humble adoration and gratitude that I can even come before the throne.More likely to doubt God then to know with confidence that He is more than able to accomplish what concerns me today.

God tells us in His word that we are to ask, seek and knock.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 6:7-8

This is an ongoing and continuous command…I am to keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking.I can keep doing that because I know with confidence that my God is able to answer my prayers and He is a good God who cares for me.When I ask, seek and knock…I must be willing to submit to His will.

Where ever did I get the notion that faith should be easy?For Pete’s sakes I’m in a spiritual battle.What enemy has ever made their opponent’s victory easy?Anything good is worth fighting for.

Shouldn’t I remember most importantly that God is prize?Yes…I can come to Him in prayer…present my requests in faith, with thanksgiving and know that He is able to handle my every need or concern with ease.But the real prize…the thing that is most important…is not that He will answer my prayers…but that He desires to have a relationship with me.God Almighty…Creator of heaven and earth…Father, Son and Holy Spirit…wants to know me.

Dear Father…I have so failed in my faith.I have missed the mark and did not comprehend that You are the prize.Jesus…help me to grow strong in my faith…by exercising my faith muscles with daily and continuous workouts.May I be mindful I am in a spiritual battle…and strive for victory no matter what the cost.I come to You in Christ alone.Amen!

Not sure how much of an inkling I had at some of the ugly stuff that would be revealed as I delve into my faith…in my study of Believing God.

I never wanted to do therapy…because I figure I’ve already lived the bad stuff…I don’t want to waste even one more moment of my life dwelling on it.But I’m starting to see the importance of examining the outworking of my faith compared to what God says it should be…and what pleases Him.

Boy oh boy…am I coming up short!And folks…it ain’t pretty.As the days and weeks go by in this study…I hope to better understand why my faith is so weak.But right now all I’m seeing is my failure of faith.

God makes it very clear in His word…that He desires for us to have faith and to believe Him.He even rewards our faith.Reading Hebrews 11….the Hall of Faith…I am in awe of what these people endured and how they maintained their focus on God and His promises.They didn’t waver with doubt and unbelief…nor were they concerned on how God would accomplish what He had promised.Instead they stood steadfast and resolute in believing their God.

Faith, trust and believing God is a way to glorify and honor Him…it pleases Him.Can you imagine a child who is fearful and concerned about how her parent will provide and take care of her?That surely wouldn’t speak too well of that parent now would it?But in this instance…my lack of faith and trust…doesn’t speak well of me.

I find it kind of amazing that God delights and rewards those who believe and trust Him in faith.But when I look at a parent…don’t they delight in doing good things for their child?Don’t they take great pleasure in bringing happiness and joy to their child?How much more so God?

When I look at Abraham…I marvel at his great faith.I ask myself…if God called me to sacrifice my only child….would I obey?If I obeyed…would I be quick to do so and not question God?

Am I going to believe God…and who He says He is?Trust what He says He will do?Or am I going to believe my circumstances…and only what I can see?I’m quite adept at sight walking faith.But God wants me to walk by faith…and I’ve failed that test miserably.

It’s easy to believe what’s in front of me and what I can see.It requires effort, faith and work to know God’s word…and His character as revealed in the Bible.In a different context the Bible tells me that I am to deny myself, pick up my cross and follow Jesus.Since doubt and unbelief is so ingrained in me…wouldn’t I be denying myself and following Jesus when I choose to believe Him by faith?So often…I think of denying myself in terms of denying certain pleasures…but perhaps that command encompasses even more than that.

As I look at my faith…and my poor track record…I realize that I’m not able to achieve this on my own…that God will have to give me the faith to believe Him.The Holy Spirit is going to be doing double duty…bringing to mind the scriptures I’ve studied…to help keep me walking by faith.

Sight walking faith has bigger consequences than just loosing out on blessings in this world.It also affects my prayer life.When I doubt my God…do I bring everything to Him by prayer and petition…and present my request to Him?Am I faithful to bring unbelieving friends and family before the throne of God and beseech Him for mercy and for their salvation?How many people are praying for them…for their hurts and needs?How many cry out to God for their salvation?Shouldn’t my voice be lifted up to God in heaven…that He would save their souls?What will I be feeling in heaven when the books are closed and people that I could have prayed for aren’t there?

Am I willing to deny myself…my doubt and unbelief…and trust God in faith?Am I willing to turn away from sight walking faith…and walk by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit within me?

Oh Lord…please help me.You know how I have failed, time and time again.You are going to have to give me the faith…because I am frail and weak in my faith…and unable to believe on my own.Help me to believe You and trust You.Help me to walk by faith.Thank you Jesus…that I am a new creation in You.

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As I start again the Beth Moore study Believing God…I’m finding that I’m going to be challenging some strongholds of doubt and unbelief in my life.Some of the ugly places…the things that I don’t think that I should have as a Christian.

There are times I wonder if I’m an aberration in the body of Christ?Am I the only one who struggles with doubt and unbelief?

Things like struggling with prayer.Do my prayers make a difference…or am I just wasting God’s time?After all…His will is going to happen anyway…shouldn’t I just submit instead?

No I shouldn’t surrender to the enemy’s lies that my prayers don’t matter.That’s what the person who most hates me in the whole entire world wants me to believe.He doesn’t want me to see and know that God loves me, cares about me and wants me to come to Him in faith, believing that He is good and entrusting Him with my concerns…and even the desires of my heart.

Satan wants me to doubt God.Doubt His goodness and doubt His character.He wants me to remain ignorant of God’s word.Or if I know what He says…to at least not believe it.Not believe that it applies to me personally.That what God promises in His word to His people…applies to me Susan.

When I don’t believe in a good God…one who loves me…it makes it harder to take my requests to Him in prayer.Why would I trust something that is most precious to me…to Someone who doesn’t loves me?

Satan likes to remind me daily…hourly…of how God has failed me…delayed…just plain not answered the prayer that is most important to me.He takes me on a tour of my life…to see how God has allegedly failed me.How He has turned His back on me…and just doesn’t care.He doesn’t love me…and I’m not worth it.That is the path of doubt and unbelief that the enemy likes to take me down.

While doing my first day’s homework…God reminded me that believing Him is work…it takes effort.It’s a choice I need to make daily…hourly…minute by minute.It takes no effort to believe the lies I’m being fed by Satan.But it takes effort to know God and His Word…to raise my shield of faith.It’s is work and takes faith to believe God…even when the evidence around me would say otherwise.

Now if I’m believing God…I will instead say that God’s delay in answering my prayer in giving me the desires of my heart…is because He is in the process of growing and preparing me…andworking on the man whom I will marry.That God has a perfect timing and plan for me that He put in place from before the foundations of the world.That He is able to make a marriage which seems late in coming…perfect in His time.That it will be rich and full…and well worth the wait.That I will one day say…now I understand why You waited God.

Believing God is work…and I have an enemy who wants me to doubt God.He can not steal away my salvation…but he can make my life so miserable that I don’t even want to live anymore.Why would I allow him that victory?

But I can see most clearly that I don’t have the power and ability to have the faith I need on my own.If I’m going to get through this study…if I’m going to believe God, trust Him, take my requests to Him…and in confidence know that He will answer according to His perfect plan and timing…then He will have to give me the faith to believe.

So God…that is my first prayer…please give me the faith to believe You.I can’t do it on my own.So if You want me to believe…have faith…a powerful faith that brings down strongholds and exposes the lies of the enemy…then You will have to give it to me…fill me with faith.As Your word says…I can come confidently before Your throne with my requests…because I come to You in Christ Jesus my Lord.